THE MANISTEE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 375 



Mr. Hui'd said some held that the root should be put on the heavy side as a 

 brace. 



Mr. Eamsdell would set the long root on the southwest side. It would in- 

 duce more growth on that side. 



Dr. Ellis thought he would always set a little to the southwest. 



In regard to the work of setting, the society concluded that to wet thei'oots 

 and sprinkle earth on them was a better way than to pour water around them 

 just after they were set out, because it washed the dirt away from the roots 

 and left a hollow there. 



Mr. Hurd thought that many trees had been killed by laying them down by 

 the hole and not setting immediately. He would dig the hole, bring the trees 

 out, and put right in. 



In regard to distance, the society concluded that fifteen or sixteen feet apart 

 was right to set all kinds of apple and plum trees. 



In regard to varieties for market the Lombard ranked first and the Canada 

 Egg next. Mr. Hurd said he had read a great deal about the Canada Egg and 

 was satisfied it was the coming plum. 



Mr. Ramsdell said it was the best to market, and it had a thick skin and 

 was very large. 



Mr. Mapes, in giving his experience with plums, said he found a great many 

 who liked the German prune. 



Messrs. Hurd and Ramsdell thought it was the poorest plum we have. 



Mr. Mapes thought the Washington had a fine flavor. 



Mr. Ramsdell said so far as that was concerned they would all have to knock 

 under to the little Green Gage. 



The society then decided upon the following best varieties in the order in 

 which they are named : Lombard, Canada Egg, Imperial Gage, Duane's Purple, 

 Yellow Gage, and Washington. 



In planting 100 trees the society unanimously agreed that they would plant 

 one-half Lombard, a large proportion of the other half Canada Egg, and the 

 balance of most any other variety named above as among the best. 



The society then resolved to continue the apple and plum question until 

 the next Monday night at the same place, after which they adjourned. 



THE STRAWBERRY. 



A very interesting meeting of the Manistee Horticultural Society was held 

 at the Times office, the principal part of the meeting being devoted to a dis- 

 cussion of the question, " What are the four best varieties of strawberries for 

 market purposes ?" 



Mr. D. W. Mapes named the Wilson as the best, and Jucunda as the next 

 best in his experience. He thought the Jucunda was not so prolific as the 

 Wilson, but it was large and handsome and came in after the Wilson and sold 

 higher. He had sold them for twenty-five cents per quart very readily, when 

 he only got from fifteen to eighteen cents for others. Of other varieties he did 

 not know so much from his own experience. He knew, however, of some good 

 points in the Agriculturist, the Kentucky, and the Green Prolific, but bis ex- 

 perience with them was not extensive enough to give him a definite idea of their 

 relative value for market purposes. The Agriculturist, as far as he had tested 

 it, did best in wet seasons. It grew to a very large size, was prolific, and a 

 good berry generally, but it wouldn'c stand the drought as the Wilson did. 



Mr. Charles Hurd said the Wilson berry, besides being very prolific, was 



